Identificación de zonas agroclimáticas potenciales para producción de cebolla ( Allium cepa L.) en Carabobo, Venezuela

Abstract

Abstract The development agroclimatic zoning, in addition to allowing the specific location of the áreas with the greatest vocation for particular productive activities, also makes it possible to recognize the location of the available infrastructure for the promotion of the sovereignty and food security of the country. The objective of the study was to define agroclimatic zones suitable for growing onions in the state of Carabobo, Venezuela. To do this, daily rainfall data were used from 41 weather stations, climatic data for the estimation of evapotranspiration, edaphological charts of the entity and computer programs for crop water balances. The requirements of the crop in terms of soil and climate, and the edaphoclimatic "supply" of the área were compared to satisfactorily quantify the requirements covered and, consequently, the degree of potential aptitude of the área for the specific crop was determined. The soil-climate-crop relationships were analyzed separately, and then integrated by means of a Geographical Information System to obtain a unique result. The study determined that 787 km² of the state's agricultural lands are suitable for growing onions. In these áreas of valleys, low áreas of mountains, hills and the lacustrine plain of the Depression of the Lake of Valencia, yields higher than 95% can be obtained. The zoning study aims to be the basis of a model of sustainable agricultural production, which serves as a tool for work, consultation and guidance in the face of initiatives related to agricultural activity.